IT IS the Chinese year of the Rooster so it's somewhat fitting­ that the Central Coast Rugby League's representative teams will also be known as the Roosters from this season.

It might even bring some good fortune on the field, not that they need it.

They will play under the banner of the Central Coast Roosters as part of the next stage of the partnership between Central Coast Division Rugby League and the Sydney Roosters National Rugby League club.

Six local players made their debuts in the NRL in 2016 including Roosters Connor Watson (Kincumber) and Lattrell Mitchell (Central Coast Centurions), Newcastle Knights Jack Cogger (Toukley) and Jacob and Daniel Saifiti (The Entrance) and Wests Tigers' Jacob Liddle (Wyong).

In addition. four Coast juniors were part of the Roosters' under-20s squad that won the Holden Cup grand final last year including Ben Thomas (Kincumber), Kiah Cooper, Jarrett Boland and Bayley Faull (Terrigal).

The Coast is also well represented at the elite level with James Maloney and Chris Heighington helping Cronulla to its maiden premiership last year, Rory Kostjasyn moving from the Cowboys to Newcastle, Akuila Uate and Jono Wright at Manly and Jake Mamo who is now playing in the Super League in the UK.

Watson was a product of the partnership and knows first-hand what benefits there are for players.

"We're starting to see it come through all the grades, I grew up on the Central Coast and I've ended up at the Roosters," he said.

"If you look at the Central Coast we have one of the biggest junior bases of rugby league players and there's a lot of talent playing for different NRL clubs.

"There's been a few clubs that have tried to tap into the region but it hasn't really worked out, but you can see with the Roosters that it's definitely working and it's because of the hard work and resources they are putting into the Central Coast."

One of the big changes the Roosters have implemented is identifying talent and taking them to Sydney high-performance­ camps.

"The difference is the talented kids can come down and train with the other boys in the Roosters system and get coached by top coaches whether it's (Roosters NRL coach) Trent Robinson or our assistant coaches or even our 20s coach."